Expansion-engine



A. V LARSON. EXPANSION ENGINE,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, I918 Patented June 8, 192% 4 $HEETSSHEET I.

A. V. LARSON. EXPANSION ENGINE.

, 'APPLlCATION FILED JUNE 8, I9I8 11,343,56.

Patented June 8, 192%..

A. V. LARSON. EXPANSION ENGINE. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 8, I918.

Patented June 8,1920

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

u gkwamboz KZWJWM I dttozm e13 A. V. LARSON.

EXPANSION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1918. L3%3 @5Q Patented June 8, 192%.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' M if: awa 0m AUGUST VICTOR LAB-SON, OF BROOKLYN, NEVJ' YORK.

EXPANSION-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1922.

Application filed June 8, 191& Serial No. 238,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUcUs'r VICTOR Lain soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inExpansion-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and economicalexpansion engine of the caloric type, wherein air or similar fluid agentserves as the expansion medium, and which, introduced at a lowtemperature and applied to the piston or other power element of themechanism at a high temperature, relatively to that of introduction,serves to actuate an eflicient driving unit, and with this generalobject in view, the invention consists in a construction, combinationand relation of parts hereinafter specifically explained, it beingunderstood however that changes in form proportion and details may beresorted to, within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a site view of an engine representing a preferredembodiment,

Fig. 2is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view,

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane indicated bythe line 42-43 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view on the plane of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a similar plane 66 of Fig. 3,

F 7 is another transverse sectional view on the plane 77 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a side view of a tubular core unit serving to define thecompartments of the compression chamber,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the core shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a side view of the operating valve, and

Fig. 11 is a detail view in perspective of the motion transmittingelement by which the motion of the valve is controlled.

Essentially the engine embodies a heating element representedillustratively by the steam jacket 20, suitably supported upon a base 21and having inlet 22 and outlet 23, a

sectional view on the compression chamber 24, bounded exteriorly by thecylindrical wall 25, which also forms the inner wall of the steam acket,and bounded interiorly by a tubular unit 26, rep resented in detail inFigs. 8 and 9, a piston cylinder 27 formed by the bore of the tubularunit 26 and havin a reciprocatory piston 28 mounted therein, and anoperating valve 29 for controlling the inlet and exhaust of theexpansion medium and also for controlling certain compression andexpansion ports constituting the means of access to and egress from thecompression chamber, as hereinafter more fully explained, with referenceto the piston cylinder and the action of the piston therein. The outershell constituting the exterior wall of the steam jacket, as shown at21, may be flanged inwardly, as shown at 30, to form the bottom of thesteam jacket and provided with a central opening 31, while resting uponthe upper ends of the tubular elements 21 and 25 is a head plate 32,secured in place by bolts 33 and provided with a central opening 34:,and the tubular element 26, which constitutes the inner wall of thecompression chamber and contains the piston cylinder, is provided at itsupper and lower ends with sleeves 35 and 36, which respectively fit inthe openings 8e and 31 ot the aforesaid head plate 32 and flange 30 andare peripherally "flanged, as at 37, to fit within the bore of thecylindrical wall 25 to constitute the bottom of the compression chamberand hold the several parts in their proper relative positions. The lowersleeve 36 also preferably extends downward through an opening 38 in thebed plate 39 of the base 21. The piston is connected by a rod l0 withthe crank shaft 41.

Bearing upon and supported by, but preferably spaced from the uppersurface of, the head plate 82, is a cap plate 42 also held in place bythe bolts 33 and held in the proper position relative to the head plateby means of spacing washers L3; The intermediate space between the headplate and the cap plate constitutes an inlet and exhaust passage as forthe ingress and escape of atmospheric air. Also carried by the capplate, and if preferred made integral therewith, as shown in thedrawing, is a frusto-conical cap 45. embraced by a ring l6 in which isformed a relief port 47 controlled by a spring actuated valve 48, whichis adapted to be unseated under excessive pressure, as

hereinafter more fully described, and therefore constituting a safetyvalve, which is normally and yieldingly held seated by the spring 49.

Mounted at its upper end in the cap and at its lower end in a seat 50,constituting a portion of the bore of the tubular unit 26, shown indetail in Figs. 8 and 9, is the operating valve 29, which is doubletapered in form, being tapered in opposite directions toward itsextremities from an intermediate point. The valve is provided with anaxial bore 51, constituting a relief port which communicates at itslower end with a chamber 52 formed in the upper or exterior surface ofthe cylinder head 53,.and with which communicates the interior of thecylinder by means of the ports 4, and which communicates at itsupper'end, through a port 55 with a channel 56 formed in the 'cap 45,said channel being at all times in communication with the relief port 47of the ring 46. If at any time during the operation of the engine theinterior pressure exceeds the amount determined by the seating spring ofthe safety valve, a relief will be afforded through the ports 51, 55,channel 56 and relief valve.

The compression chamber is of compartmental construction, being dividedinto any desired number, preferably three compartments, as indicatedspecifically in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by radial wings 57, and surroundingthe valve between the plane of the cylinder head 53 and'the sleeve 35the compression chamber unit 26 is provided with a series of radialchannels 58, as also shown specifically in Figs. 4 and 5, four of suchchannels being assigned to and used in con nection with each compartmentof the com- 7 pression chamber and each of which in succession may bearranged in communication with the piston cylinder through alongitudinal channel port 59 formed in the operating valve andcommunicating at its lower end with the chamber 52, which ashereinbefore explained is in permanent communication with the pistoncylinder through the ports 54. Connecting two of the radial channels 58,in each group of four, with the corresponding compartment of thecompression chamber'are the ports 60 and 61, hereinafter referred tospecifically as expansion and compressionorts. Obviously when thechannel port 5901: the operating valve is in. registration withtheradial channels 58 with which communicate the expansion and compressionports, respectively, the corresponding compartment of the compressionchamber Wlll be -1n-d1rect communication with the piston cylinder. V

compression chamber, are provided with ports 62 and 63, hereinafterreferred to specifically as intake and exhaust ports, which arerespectively in communication with corresponding ports, similarlydesignated in the head plate 32, and hence in communication with theinlet and exhaust passage 44 formed by the space between said head plateand the cap plate 42. Therefore, assuming that the operating valve turnscontinuously in one direction, it will establish communicationsuccessively between the radial channels 58 and the piston cylinder andconsequently, as to each compartment of the compression chamber, willestablish communication between the compression port and the pistoncylinder, the intake port and the piston cylinder, the exhaust port andthe piston cylinder, and the expansion port and the piston cylinder,

successively. Or assuming that the rotative,

movement of the operating valve is in the opposite direction, therelative arrangement of the parts is such that the piston cylinder will.be successively in communica tion, as to each compartment of thecompression chamber with an expansion port, an

exhaust port, an intake port, and a compression port, and assuming thatthe piston 1s, as shown in Fig. 3, at the upper or outer l1m1t of 1tsstroke, the expansion port Wlll be in communication with the cylinder,and

when the piston reaches the inner limit of its strokethe exhaust portwill be in communication with the cylinder and will re main exposeduntil the piston returns to the limit of its outward movement, whereuponthe intake port will be put into communication with the piston cylinder,during the inward stroke of the piston, and again the compression portwill be opened by the valve during the subsequent outward stroke of thepiston, so as to recharge under compression the compartment which was incommunication with the piston cylinder during the first of the indicatedgroup of four strokes or cycles of the piston. Obvi ously, thisoperation will be repeated as to each of. the several compartments ofthe compression chamber, and if the steam jacket is suitably charged andat a proper temperature, it will be equally obvious that the compressedcharge of air, which has been forced thereinto during the final upwardstroke orcycle of the piston, will be raised in temperature from that ofthe surrounding atmospheric air, imported through the intakes, to thatwhich it will derive from the steam, so that when again the expansionport of the same compartment of the compression chamber is placed .incommunication with the piston cylinder, the piston will receive theeffect of the expansion of said charge due to the increase intemperature, supplemented, of course, by the re-action resulting fromthe previous compression.

Preferably the operating valve receives a step by step movement toestablish successively communication between the several described portsand the piston cylinder as by employing a counter shaft 6%, geared, asat 65, to the crank shaft, which should be provided with a fly wheel 66,and a reciprocatory motion converting element 67 actuated by a cam 68operating between pins 69 on said slide and provided with pawls 70,engaging a ratchet wheel 71, keyed, or otherwise suitably secured to thespindle 72 of said valve. The pawls may be provided with actuatingsprings 73 to maintain them in proper relation with the ratchet wheel,as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 11. The slide is slotted, as at 74 and75, to permit of the reciprocatory motion above indicated with referenceto the valve stem and the counter shaft 64.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 7, the cap 45 is provided with anumber of lateral ports 55, corresponding with the number ofcompartments in the compression chamber for permanent communication withthe channel 56 and periodic communication with the chamber 52 in thecylinder head through the relief port 51.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the engine is ofthe four cycle type, in that on successive strokes it inducts air atatmospheric pressure and temperature through the inlet port which isthen in connection by the valve channel port with the piston cylinderand on the return or outward stroke this charge is forced into thecompression chamber or into that compartment of said chamber which isthen by a forward step movement of the valve brought into communicationthrough a compression port with the piston cylinder, and then saidcylinder is brought into communication by a further forward movement ofthe operating valve with the next compartment of the compression chambethrough an expansion port of the latter and an inward impulse isimparted by the charge in said compartment to the piston, and upon thesucceeding outward stroke of the piston the expansion charge which hasthen performed its function is discharged through an exhaust port whichis arranged in communication with the cylinder by a further forwardmovement of the valve, to be succeeded in turn by an inward stroke ofthe piston and an induction of a new charge of air at atmosphericpressure and temperature. In

due course the cylinder is again brought into communication with thefirst-named compartment of the compression chamber and the pistonreceives the impulse due to the expansion under a hi h temperature ofthe charge which has been compressed into said firstnamed compartmentwhile at a low temperature, each charge compressed into a compartment ofthe chamber being exposed to the influence of the heating element for asuflicient length of time to raise its temperature and hence itsexpansive energy to the degree required to give an effective operatingimpulse to the piston.

Having described the invention, it claim:

1. An expansion engine having a heating element, a compression chamberprovided with compression and exhaust ports, said heating elementconsisting of a steam jacket surrounding the compression chamber, acylinder, inlet and exhaust ports, and means for successivelyestablishing communication between said ports and the cylinder.

2. An expansion engine having a heating element, a compression chamberprovided with communicating compression and expansion ports, a cylinder,inlet and exhaust ports for communication with said cylinder, thecompression chamber being of compartmental construction and the saidports being arranged in groups of four for each compartment, a valveseat having independent channels in communication respectively with saidports, and an operating valve mounted in said seat and having a port incommunication with the cylinder and adapted for successive communicationwith said channels to consecutively establish communication between saidports and the cylinder.

3. An expansion engine having aheating element, a compartmentalcompression chamber surrounded by the heating element and inclosing apiston cylinder, the separating wall between said cylinder and thecompression chamber being provided with a valve seat in communicationwith the interior of the cylinder, and lateral channels in communicationby compression and eX- pansion ports with the compression chamber, inletand exhaust ports in communication respectively with other channelsconnected with said seat, and a valve mounted in the seat and providedwith a port for successively establishing communication be tween saidchannels and the piston cylinder.

4. An expansion engine having concentrically arranged a piston cylinder,a compression chamber, and a steam jacket, the separating wall betweenthe piston cylinder and the compression chamber being extended axiallybeyond the cylinder head to provide an operating valve seat andlaterally communicating independent radial channels, a group of portsrespectively in communication with said channels, two of the ports beingin communication with a source of fluid ata low temperature and two ofsaid ports being in communication with said compression chamber, and anoperating valve mounted in said seat and provided with a port forsuccessively establishing communication between said channels and thepiston cylinder.

5. An expansion engine having exterior and interior concentric wallsforming an intervening steam jacket, a piston cylinder concentricallyarranged within the said interior wall and spacedtherefrom to form acompression chamber, a valve seat in communication with the pistoncylinder and channels incommunication with and radiating from said seat,inlet, exhaust, compression and expansion ports respectively incommunication with said radiating channels,

the inlet and exhaust ports being in communication with a source ofexpansive fluid at low temperature and the compression and expansionports being in 7 communication with the compression chamber, and a valvemounted in said seat and having a port for successively establishingcommunication between said radiating channels and the piston cylinder. 1

6. An expansion engine having a cylindrical compression chamber dividedby radial webs to form separate compartments and inclosing a pistoncylinder of which the wall is extended beyond the cylinder head to forma valve seatand communicating radial channels arranged in groups of fourfor each compartment of the compression chamber, a heating elementhaving a jacket inclosing saidcompression chamber, inlet, exhaust,compression and expansion ports respectively in communication with saidradial channels, the inlet and exhaust ports be I ing in communicationwith a'source of expansive fluid at a low temperature and thecompression and expansion ports being in communication in pairs with thecompartments of the compression chamber, and an operating valve mountedin said seat and provided with a port for establishing communicationsuccessively between said radial channels and the piston cylinder.

7. An expansion engine having a piston cylinder, a compartmentalcompression chamber concentrically disposed with reference to saidcylinder, an operatmg valve seat in communication with the cylinder,channels radiating from and in communication with the seat, a heatingelement surrounding the compression chamber and having a wall disposedconcentrically with the exterior wall of'the compression chamber, a headplate and a cap plate spaced apart to'form an intervening inlet andexhaust passage for atmospheric air, the cap plate carrying a ,capinteriorly constructed to form a valve seat which is complementary tothe said valve seat, inlet and exhaust ports connecting certain of saidradial channels with the said inlet and exhaust passage between the headplate and cap plate, compression and expansion ports connecting thecompression chamber with other of said radiating channels, a pressureregulating relief valve, and an operating valve mounted in saidcomplementary seats, having a port for successively establishingcommunication between said radial channels and the piston cylinder andalso having a relief port for establishing communication between thepiston cylinderand said relief valve.

8. An expansion engine having a heating element, a compression chamberof compartmental construction exposed to the heating element andprovided in communication with each of its compartments with compressionand exhaust ports, a cylinder and piston, an operating valve seat incommunication with said cylinder, inlet and exhaust ports, channelscommunicating with the valve seat and respectively in communication withsaid inlet, exhaust, compression and expansion ports, an operating valvehaving a port for establishing communication between the said cylinderand either of said channels, and means actuated by the piston forimparting a step by step movement to the valve to successively establishcommunication between said several ports and the cylinder.

9. An expansion engine having a heating element, a compartmentalcompression chamber exposed to the heating element, each compartmenthaving compression and expansion ports, inlet and exhaust ports forindependent communication with the cylinder, and an operating valvehaving its seat in communication with the cylinder and all of said portsand having a port for successively establishing communication betweensaid ports and the cylinder, means controlled by the piston beingprovided for imparting a step by step movement to the valve, toconsecutively establish said communications with the several ports withreference to each compartment of the compression chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST VICTOR LARSON.

